Princess Nourah University Hosts the Women Creators Forum 2025, Themed “Empowering Women’s Creativity,” Featuring an International Art Exhibition Celebrating Female Talent

An inspiring exhibition featuring award-winning female artists and craftswomen will premiere during the second edition of the Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025, held from 4-6th of November 2025 under the patronage of HRH Princess Noura Bint Saud Bin Naif Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University and the National Museum of Saudi Arabia.

Curated by internationally recognised architect, designer and art curator Rafael Porzycki, the exhibition will support Herfah, a Riyadh-based organisation preserving and promoting traditional crafts. The exhibition also features artists from the Turquoise Mountain project, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Saudi Arabia this year. The initiative takes inspiration from the Ministry of Culture’s “Year of Handicrafts”, bringing together painters, sculptors, digital artists, and artisans who reflect the Forum’s themes of female empowerment, sustainability, and cultural heritage.

This initiative was made possible through the vision and support of the Forum’s Patron, with logistical assistance from DHL Saudi Arabia, enabling the transport of artworks from across the globe.

Featured Artists

Visual Artists

            Aida Murad (Jordan) – Known for expressive finger paintings that explore healing, empathy, and emotional resilience.

            Abeer Alkhlaifah (Saudi Arabia) – Draws inspiration from nature, reflecting harmony between humanity and environment.

            Saule Suleimenova (Kazakhstan) – Works with recycled materials to explore memory, identity, and social change.

            Noorah Aldossary (Saudi Arabia) – Visual artist and photographer focused on themes of place, memory, and cultural identity.

            Sofia Cacciapaglia (Italy) – Creates immersive pieces using recycled cardboard and paper, touching on femininity and environmental themes.

Craftswomen & Sculptors

            Elisa Insua (Argentina) – Uses discarded materials in vibrant sculptures highlighting overconsumption and waste.

            Andrea Vinkovic (Croatia) – Ceramic artist inspired by organic forms and cultural symbolism.

            Fatimah Al Nimr (Saudi Arabia) – Blends Saudi heritage with contemporary mixed media; her art centres on women’s stories.

            Catherine Coady (Australia) – Explores body image, consumerism, and pharmaceutical dependency through sculpture and painting.

            Elysia Athanatos (UK-Cyprus) – Creates refined ceramic vessels that explore light, memory, and form.

            Naqsh Collective (Jordan) – Founded by sisters Nisreen and Nermeen Abudail, blending Arabic design traditions with contemporary materials.

            Sally Smith (New Zealand) – Works with bronze and aluminium, often drawing on natural and negative/positive spatial themes.

            Olivia d’Aboville (France-Philippines) – Uses natural and recycled fibres to comment on ocean conservation and environmental fragility.

            Sarah Mohanna Al Abdali (Saudi Arabia) – A leading voice in Saudi street art, combining traditional motifs with urban commentary.

            Savi (Japan/UK) – Sculptural artist creating contemporary armour-inspired pieces rooted in Japanese tradition and ritual.

 Digital Artists

            Selina Scerri (Malta) – Explores domesticity, AI, and symbolism through multimedia and digital illustration.

            Ekaterina Malakhova (Georgia) – Works with generative design and data to reflect on digital identity and collective behaviour.

Art with Purpose

This exhibition embodies the core themes of the Creative Women Forum 2025—female empowerment, sustainability, and creativity—by celebrating the excellence of women in art while contributing to a meaningful and lasting social impact and supporting local female artists through Herfah.

Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia 2025

The Art Exhibition is an art initiative by the Creative Women Forum Saudi Arabia, taking place from 4–6 November 2025 at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, under the royal patronage of HRH Princess Noura bint Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. In partnership with the Women’s Leadership Centre, this year’s Forum is held under the theme “Empower • Engage • Sustain – Women Leading Initiatives.” It will bring together over 500 global delegates, visionary entrepreneurs, innovators, and thought leaders from business, academia, science, the arts, and government to explore creativity, sustainability, and leadership in an evolving world.

The Forum will culminate on the 6th of November with a Spectacular Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at The National Museum in Riyadh, where Saudi culture and global excellence will converge in an evening of elegance, inspiration, and celebration. At the helm of this initiative are: HRH Princess Noura bint Saud bin Naif Al Saud – a cultural catalyst and champion of creative ecosystems, known for initiatives such as Rukun Creative Exchange and AlMashtal Creative Incubator; Olga Balakleets – an award-winning musician, global cultural advisor, entrepreneur, and Founder of the Creative Women International Platform; Rebeca Riofrio – Executive Director of the Saudi Arabia edition, a London-based cultural strategist and Queen’s Award recipient recognized for building cross-sector partnerships between the UK and GCC regions. Following a highly successful 2024 debut—which garnered over 900 international media features and achieved a reach exceeding 50 million—the 2025 Forum is set to expand its global influence and foster deeper policy-level dialogue, attracting key stakeholders from government, academia, the creative industries, and international enterprise.